Quit 'Yer Bitchin

Submitted by Chrisgocomment on

Just a suggestion, but I couldn't help but notice how bitchy everyone's gotten on here since the season started.  Can't we all just get along?  Like my momma used to say "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"  As Brian said in a recent post, the first few months of the format had a lot of "Peace, Love and Understanding", but since the season started there sure are a lot of angry people out there.

In general, it gets kind of tiring to read comments about how much of a douche this commenter is, or how horrible so and so's writing is or how this or that MGoBlogger has nary a clue about football or the latest news items related to Michigan.  The truth of the matter is that some people (well, not me) don't have time to be on here all day and they aren't as up-to-date as those of us blessed with near 24-hour access to MGoBlog.  If you don't like a forum/diary/comment just let it go!  The ad hominem attacks are getting old, lets debate the material like good civil gentleman/women.  Thank you for your time.

P.S. - if you want to call me a "douche" for suggesting this go right ahead, it doesn't bother me.  Go Blue!

mjv

September 9th, 2008 at 11:05 AM ^

When ever people disagree on a topic and debate said topic, it will be confrontational.  If someone posts somethat that one believes is off the mark, it should receive a critical review. 

Frankly, the process of critical debate should drive each of us to a greater understanding of the subject matter by flushing out all of the points surrounding the argument and letting the reader decide.  Additionally, the knowledge that what one is about to post will be viewed with a critical eye should cause each poster to put some additional thought into their posting.  If not, they deserve the harsh review.

I personally have a very difficult time reading some of the fluff that
is posted here and not arguing with it, such as many of the 1,000 word
diahrea-of-the -keyboard postings during the last month. That said.  Debate can still be civil.

Callahan

September 9th, 2008 at 1:41 PM ^

There's a big difference between spirited, confrontational debate and personal insults. Chris is right. Far too many opinions/posts lately are met with derogatory comments toward the poster.  I think it started in the Haloscan "chats" which were like the wild west compared to the new format.  It's too bad because I used to enjoy the discourse at would read every comment. Lately, not so much.

Tacopants

September 9th, 2008 at 11:33 AM ^

Hey, the worst levels here are still 10,000 times better than the aol/espn/yahoo comments.  If you want to go insane, try reading a couple of pages filled with that crap.

chitownblue (not verified)

September 9th, 2008 at 2:19 PM ^

My basic opinion, as someone who has replied nastily to people:

If your opinion is a personal, ad hominem attack on another person ("Pryor is stupid", Newsome is lazy"), then your "opinion" deserves to be met with withering nastiness. If you don't like to be insulted for something you write, don't insult someone else because of football.

If you post an opinion with no backing evidence, quote, research, or anything, don't be shocked if the the feedback is less than flattering. Your opinion is likely not insightful if it's backed up by nothing.

dex

September 9th, 2008 at 2:34 PM ^

Can the tone get a little harsh here? Certainly.

But Brian provides a level of analysis unmatched - anywhere - when it comes to Michigan. I think there is a sizeable amount of readers who don't want the site overrun with Scout/Rivals level posting. 

The new diaries/board have been, overall, a positive change. But if someone hasn't noticed the increase in ill-advised, poorly thought out, barely coherent "analysis" then I suggest that someone may be a part of the problem.

As a result, I think the criticism has gone up in intensity as those posts appear, out of a desire to get rid of those posters. It's not necessarily the best tact. I know I'm one of the big offenders in that area, and I've made a conscious effort to keep myself in check - after all, it's not my site.

But while getting along is nice, it's also nice to read good posts. And while you can do your best to avoid the real crap by thread title or diary title, sometimes it shows up in a good thread and de-rails it. 

Bottom line, to me, is that if you want to attach your name to some writing and put it on a public forum, it's not the publics job to make you feel good about it. I don't think anything that's been beat down here has been undeserving it. If you post shit, people give you shit.  

Chrisgocomment

September 9th, 2008 at 3:19 PM ^

BUT - your ideas are intriguing to me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter (one of my favorite Simpson lines).  Oh wait, you sort of have a newsletter.

I suppose you have a point there.  In addition to the uptick in the dickish comments and insults since the season started it does seem like most Diarys are not worth reading.  When that's the case I just don't read them because they make me dizzy!

Now, I will say this, Dex, you are one of the offenders here, but at least you make good points and your insults are F'n hilarious.  

Other Chris

September 9th, 2008 at 3:32 PM ^

That's what it comes down to, to me.  This is the premiere Michigan blog and gets a lot of attention.  A bunch of off-topic diary posts (how cute your kids are in their M gear), ill-informed rehashes of what you heard someone on ESPN say (it doesn't make you look smart when they aren't), or some brief comment padded out with repetitive filler to hit two hundred words makes all the Michigan fans look a little dumber.

Ditto when you use stupid names like "tO$U" or revel in things like the "Dirty Thirty" when we have no room to be pointing fingers.  Just be smart and if you can't, then maybe you need to live with the criticism.  Smart and funny posts that may be mean > dumb and dull posts that may be polite (in any combination of the adjectives on either side of the operator).

cfaller96

September 9th, 2008 at 3:16 PM ^

Look, civility is inherently a subjective term, and it goes out of the window when the people involved are passionate about the topic (e.g. DailyKos was a nightmare during the Dem primaries).  I don't think the piefights are going to end, nor do I think they're anything to be concerned about.  It's the internet, this is what happens.